Les Claypool The Political Cruiser

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Eccentric bassist likes to jam and talk politics.

By IGN Music

The Primus and Frog Brigade frontman Les Claypool has been something of a media hound recently. On Thursday June 17, 2004 he was judiciously quoted in a New York Times article about the Jam Cruise, the four-night sea adventure tailored specifically toward hardcore fans of jam bands.

This past January Claypool was part of Jam Cruise 3 and enjoyed the experience so much that he has already signed on to partake in Jam Cruise 4, scheduled for January 2005. The cruises, which accomodate 500 people and boast ticket prices that range from $500 up to $1125, are put together by Cloud 9 Adventures of Boca Rata, Florida. In addition to Claypol and his cohorts, next year's Jam Cruise ticket is also rumored to include Galactic, Jon Fishman (ex-Phish), North Mississippi Allstars, Ozomatli, and DJ Logic.

In addition to his quotables in the NY Times, Claypool also appeared on CNN's "Inside Politics" at 3:30pm ET on Friday June 18th. He was on the show to talk talking about the upcoming election (during his 2003 Primus tour Claypool sported visible Howard Dean stickers on his amps).

Claypool continues his political tact on his lastest endeavor, Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains. "The majority of the lyrics on this record were written at the onset of the Iraq confrontation," explains Claypool, "so it was very difficult not to be influenced by the frustration and confusion that was felt by myself and the people around me--though somewhat dark, I tried to cloak my angst, conveying thoughts through the eyes of colorful and satirical characters."

The new album, which will be out on Tuesday September 7th on Claypool's own Prawn Song label, features Les with Buckethead, Bernie Worell, and Brain.

Claypool is currently wrapping up Primus' Hallucino-Genetics Tour, which began in Southern California in May and concludes in Chicago on Saturday June 26th.